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Pediatric Coding Alert

ICD-9 2010:

Good-Bye Nursemaid's Elbow,Transient Event Mysteries; Hello 4-Digit and 'ALTE' Codes

Published on Fri Sep 04, 2009

Not using 24640 -- a common error -- can cost your practice almost $70. You'll have an easier time landing on the precise code for a radial head subluxation or an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) when ICD-9 2010 introduces specific codes for these injuries. Clearly Describe Subluxation Using Specific Code ICD-9 2010 adds a specific code for ursemaid's elbow"": 832.2. ""The new code offers a much better fit to describe what the physician has really diagnosed "" says Lynn A. Brown CPC director of physician coding and reimbursement at Children's Health System in Birmingham Ala. Code 832.2 will better show payers the service's complexity. You currently have to lump the elbow dislocation as occurring at an unspecified site: 832.00 (Dislocation of elbow; closed dislocation; elbow unspecified). If you look up the term ""nursemaid's elbow"" in the ICD-9-CM 2009 index it directs you to 832.0x Brown points out. Catch: The ICD-9 2009 code [...]
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